TY - JOUR
T1 - A qualitative evaluation of the pathway for eating disorders and autism developed from clinical experience (PEACE)
T2 - clinicians’ perspective
AU - Li, Zhuo
AU - Hutchings-Hay, Chloe
AU - Byford, Sarah
AU - Tchanturia, Kate
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Li, Hutchings-Hay, Byford and Tchanturia.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Introduction: The Pathway for Eating disorders and Autism developed from Clinical Experience (PEACE pathway) is a clinical pathway of adapted treatment for individuals with eating disorders and autism in the UK. This study aims to investigate multidisciplinary clinicians’ views of the strengths and challenges of PEACE pathway adaptations, while identifying areas where further improvement is needed. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 clinicians who worked on the PEACE pathway. Themes relevant to the benefits, challenges and areas of improvement were identified, and a thematic map was produced. Results: PEACE Pathway brought clinical benefits such as improved understanding of patients’ perspective, improved flexibility and individualisation in clinicians’ approach, increased patient engagement, and provision of resources that are helpful to all patients with or without autism. Benefits to the service included increase in autism awareness, clinicians’ confidence, and team collaboration. Challenges were also identified, including difficulties in incorporating autism adaptations into existing treatment protocol, implementing PEACE at different levels of care, staff schedule conflicts, and increased pressure to meet patients’ needs. Overall, there is a need for systemic improvement in aftercare and community support for autism, more suitable autism screening tool, and more structured guidelines for making adaptations. Conclusions and implications: PEACE Pathway has brought clinical and service benefits, while also bringing practical challenges rooted in the difficulty in distinguishing between autism and eating disorder in comorbid population. Future areas of improvement are highlighted for PEACE resources as well as in the national support system for autistic individuals.
AB - Introduction: The Pathway for Eating disorders and Autism developed from Clinical Experience (PEACE pathway) is a clinical pathway of adapted treatment for individuals with eating disorders and autism in the UK. This study aims to investigate multidisciplinary clinicians’ views of the strengths and challenges of PEACE pathway adaptations, while identifying areas where further improvement is needed. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 clinicians who worked on the PEACE pathway. Themes relevant to the benefits, challenges and areas of improvement were identified, and a thematic map was produced. Results: PEACE Pathway brought clinical benefits such as improved understanding of patients’ perspective, improved flexibility and individualisation in clinicians’ approach, increased patient engagement, and provision of resources that are helpful to all patients with or without autism. Benefits to the service included increase in autism awareness, clinicians’ confidence, and team collaboration. Challenges were also identified, including difficulties in incorporating autism adaptations into existing treatment protocol, implementing PEACE at different levels of care, staff schedule conflicts, and increased pressure to meet patients’ needs. Overall, there is a need for systemic improvement in aftercare and community support for autism, more suitable autism screening tool, and more structured guidelines for making adaptations. Conclusions and implications: PEACE Pathway has brought clinical and service benefits, while also bringing practical challenges rooted in the difficulty in distinguishing between autism and eating disorder in comorbid population. Future areas of improvement are highlighted for PEACE resources as well as in the national support system for autistic individuals.
KW - adaptation
KW - autism
KW - clinician interview
KW - comorbidity
KW - eating disorder
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85190590908&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1332441
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1332441
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85190590908
SN - 1664-0640
VL - 15
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry
M1 - 1332441
ER -